Arenas, Storey Are Arrested in Miami

Network News

Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas and Awvee Storey, a forward who played with the team last season but is not currently under contract, were arrested Saturday night in Miami Beach on charges of disobeying police.

Arenas and Storey were taken in for processing and have been released.

According to the police report, Storey was walking in traffic in the middle of a busy street when an officer told him to get back on the sidewalk. When Storey did not get out of the street, the officer arrested him and charged him with failing to obey a command.

As the arrest was made, Arenas got out of a vehicle and walked toward the arresting officers. Arenas was told to get back into his vehicle but refused, saying he wanted to stand next to his teammate. Arenas was then taken into custody and charged with resisting without violence.

As Arenas was arrested, according to the police report, he said: "You can't arrest me. I'm a basketball player. I play for the Washington Wizards and I'm not going to leave my teammate."

The Wizards issued a statement saying, "We are aware of the situation and, until we have more information, we will have no comment."

Arenas and Storey were in Miami Beach for an annual celebration of hip-hop music and culture known as Urban Beach Week.

The event has grown into a major Memorial Day weekend attraction for hip-hip artists, athletes, college students and young professionals. Last year's event attracted around 350,000 people and police started cracking down on even minor incidents of misbehavior in order to better control the overflow of people.

According to an Associated Press report, a total of 557 people were arrested between Thursday morning and Saturday night on Miami Beach. Most arrests were for disorderly conduct and intoxication. During the same three-day period last year, there were 333 arrests.

"We're definitely over from last year," Miami Beach police spokesman Bobby Hernandez said. "We're working a lot more plainclothes officers, so you're obviously going to make more arrests."